Catheter device with needle guard

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a catheter device comprising a catheter hub in which a valve member is disposed, a needle fixed in a needle hub, the needle extending through the valve member in the catheter hub in a ready position, and a tubular receptacle in which the needle hub is displaceably guided and biased by a spring in a proximal direction relative to the receptacle, wherein the needle hub is releasably held in the ready position in the receptacle against the force of the spring by frictional force between needle circumference and catheter or catheter hub, which frictional force is reduced on retraction of the needle through the catheter hub such that the force of the spring prevails.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A catheter device comprising:
 a catheter hub in which a valve member is disposed; 
 a needle fixed to a needle hub, the needle extending through the valve member in the catheter hub in a ready position; and 
 a tubular receptacle in which the needle hub is displaceably guided and biased by a spring in a proximal direction relative to a distal end of the receptacle; 
 wherein the needle hub is releasably held in the ready position in the receptacle against the force of the spring and the valve member is a valve disc comprising at least three slits forming resilient lugs. 
 
     
     
       2. The catheter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the needle hub is held in the receptacle by a manually operated locking member, against the force of the spring. 
     
     
       3. A catheter device comprising:
 a catheter hub in which a valve member is disposed; 
 a needle fixed in a needle hub, the needle extending through the valve member in the catheter hub in a ready position; 
 a tubular receptacle in which the needle hub is displaceably guided and biased by a spring in a proximal direction relative to a distal end of the receptacle; 
 wherein the needle hub is releasably held in the ready position in the receptacle against the force of the spring; and 
 wherein the needle hub is held in the ready position in the receptacle by frictional force between needle circumference and catheter or catheter hub, which frictional force is reduced on retraction of the needle through the catheter hub such that the force of the spring prevails. 
 
     
     
       4. The catheter device according to  claim 3 , wherein a member is provided in the catheter hub, generating a predetermined frictional force and exerting a predetermined frictional force on the needle circumference. 
     
     
       5. The catheter device according to  claim 3 , wherein a distal longitudinal portion of the needle circumference is provided with a friction-reducing coating or surface treatment, by means of which the distal longitudinal portion of the needle has a lower frictional force in relation to the friction member and/or the valve member than the remaining longitudinal portion of the needle. 
     
     
       6. The catheter device according to  claim 3 , wherein the spring urges the receptacle against the catheter hub and the receptacle covers the needle shafi when the needle is partly retracted from the catheter hub. 
     
     
       7. The catheter device according to  claim 3 , further comprising a valve actuator positioned inside the catheter hub and distal of the needle hub. 
     
     
       8. The catheter device according to  claim 3 , wherein the valve is a valve disc comprising at least three slits forming resilient lugs. 
     
     
       9. The catheter device according to  claim 3 , wherein the catheter hub comprises a distal hub portion attached to a proximal hub portion. 
     
     
       10. The catheter device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a valve actuator positioned inside the catheter hub and distal of an axially projecting boss. 
     
     
       11. The catheter device according to  claim 1 , wherein the catheter hub comprises a distal hub portion attached to a proximal hub portion. 
     
     
       12. The catheter device according to  claim 10 , wherein the valve actuator comprises a cone-shaped abutting portion for abutting the valve to open the valve. 
     
     
       13. The catheter device according to  claim 1 , wherein an axially projecting boss is a separate piece attached to the receptacle. 
     
     
       14. The catheter device according to  claim 1 , wherein an axially projecting boss is integrally formed with the receptacle. 
     
     
       15. A catheter device comprising:
 a catheter hub in which a valve member is disposed; 
 a needle fixed to a needle hub, the needle extending through the valve member in the catheter hub in a ready position; and 
 a tubular receptacle in which the needle hub is displaceably guided and biased by a spring in a proximal direction relative to a distal end of the receptacle; 
 wherein the needle hub is releasably held in the ready position in the receptacle against the force of the spring; and 
 wherein the tubular receptacle has an axially projecting boss disposed distally of an end thereof and projecting inside the catheter hub. 
 
     
     
       16. A catheter device comprising:
 a catheter hub in which a valve member is disposed; 
 a needle fixed to a needle hub, the needle extending through the valve member in the catheter hub in a ready position; and 
 a tubular receptacle in which the needle hub is displaceably guided and biased by a spring in a proximal direction relative to a distal end of the receptacle; 
 wherein the needle hub is releasably held in the ready position in the receptacle against the force of the spring; and 
 wherein the valve member has a plurality of slits that separate when the needle passes through the valve member and that separate when fluid flow is pushed through the catheter hub. 
 
     
     
       17. A catheter device comprising:
 a catheter hub with a catheter tube in which a valve member having a least one slit is completely disposed; said catheter hub comprising an open proximal end for receiving a male implement to open at least one slit on the valve member; 
 a needle fixed to a needle hub, the needle extending through the valve member in the catheter hub and out a distal end of the catheter tube in a ready position; 
 a rigid tubular receptacle in which the needle hub is displaceably guided and biased by a spring in a proximal direction relative to the a distal end of the receptacle; wherein the tubular receptacle has an axially projecting boss disposed distally of an end thereof and projecting inside the catheter hub, 
 wherein the needle hub is releasably held in the ready position in the receptacle against the force of the spring. 
 
     
     
       18. The catheter device of  claim 17 , further comprising a valve opener disposed inside the catheter hub and proximally of the valve member.